² “Go down at once to the potter’s house;^(A) there I will reveal my words to you.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel.^{[a] 4} But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do.^(B)

⁵ The word of the Lord came to me: ⁶ “House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.^(C)

²⁰ On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(A) Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” ^{(B) 21} Or has the potter no right over the clay,^(C) to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?